Work transporting carrier



March 24, 1936. w c. A LIHE 2,035,311

WORK TRANSPORTING CARRIER Filed April 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor W. C Galliher Attorney 24, 1936. w. c. GALLIHER 2,035,311

WORK TRANSPORTING CARRIER Filed April 29, 1935 5 Sheets+Sheet 2 Z4 Inventor 72 W. C ,Ga Zlz'her i 9 MW By V Attorney March 24, 1936. -w, c. GALLIHER WORK TRANSPORTING CARRIER Filed April 29, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s 5 mr F m I I nvancor zhew W. CQGaZZ Fatented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Application April 29,

- Claims.

This invention relates to a novel structural assemblage which may be unitarily referred to as an article or work suspending and transporting carrier, and it has specific reference to an apparatus 5 which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted for use in sheet steel mills for employment in conjunction with a travelling crane in the handling ofhot and cold sheet steel.

Merely to give the reader an insight into the general method of doing this now, it is to be briefly explained that a hanger structure is used which is connected with the crane hook and provided with flexible chains depending therefrom and themselves having hooks to engage underneath the marginal edges of the sheet steel so that .it may be transported more or less in a horizontal plane. With this class of a structure, the attendants are subjected to great dangers and the work becomes hazardous since the hooks on the ends of the chains easily become accidentally disengaged, and when hot sheets are handled, the workers are subjected to even greater hazards in that they must remain within the vicinity of the source of heat in order to satisfactorily engage the hooks with the sheets in the first instance before it is carried to its destination.

By way of contrast and after considerable thought as to requisites and requirements, I have evolved and produced a structure of a rather diversified character which is characterized primarily by a horizontal carrier frame provided with adjustable and detachable hangers or suspension devices of a type which can be held rigidly in such position so as to permit expeditious application and subsequent retention and to perjmit the entire job to be more satisfactorily and safely handled.

' 'Portrayed in greater particularity the special adaptation which I have chosen as the preferred embodiment of the invention relies for distinctiveness and novelty on the adoption and use of an open-work multiple bar carrier frame for horizontal disposition wherein the bars are provided with a plurality of selectively usable keeper notches to accommodate the upper hooked ends of the depending hanger devices, whereby to provide a set-up which will more or less rigidly main- .tain the devices in a set position against longitudinal swinging but will at the same time permit them to be arranged in groups to accommodate varying conditions and circumstances.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon constructions in this general classification by providing an arrangement which is aptly fitted for the purposes intended, is rigid and dependable,

1935, Serial No. 18,932

economical and structurally distinguishable particularly in that it includes as a feature unique sheet or article hanger devices, the lower portions of which are in the form of swingable suspension hooks capable of being held out to facilitate engagement with the sheets and then swung in beneath the sheets and rigidly held in the latter position so as to avoid displacement.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a structural assemblage constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention and disclosing the approximate manner in which it is used.

Figure 2 is an end view employed to disclose the opposed disposition and companion relationship of the hanger devices or units in conjunction with the frame.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of either Figures 1 or 2 as the case may be.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view with portions shown in section and disclosing the special pivotal and jointing means between the swingable lower hook member and its companion part.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the illustrative drawings and in particular to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be observed that the carrier and transporting frame is denoted by the numeral 6. This is of general rectangular form in top plan view and of open-work construction. As shown in Figure 3, it may be said to comprise transverse end members I and a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal connecting bars or members 8. These are selectively usable to accommodate the hanger units 9 depending on the width or size of the object, plate, or other work to be handled. These bars 8 are provided at predetermined points with a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches IE which may be conveniently referred to as keeper seats, these being designed to accommodate hooks H on the upper ends of the hanger units. Alined with each keeper seat or notch is a slot I2 which registers with key-hole slots l3 and I4 formed in the hook ll, these passages being designed to accommodate a locking bolt or pin 15. This is a simple pin arrangement and includes a retaining head or detent IE on one end and a knob or crank IT on the opposite end forcon venience of operation. This provides a locking arrangement so that after the hook I l is dropped into one of the keeper seats ID as selected the locking pin I5 is put in place to keep the parts assembled. The numerals l8 merely designate cross pieces for reinforcing purposes and for accommodating a suspension eye [9. This eye is adapted to receive the crane hook 20 as shown in Figure 1.

Considering now the hanger or suspension units 9 it will be observed that each one is the same in construction and a description of one will sufiice for all. With this in mind the preferred construction of the units comprises a pair of upper and lower rods or sections 2| and 2|a of appropriate material and dimensions. The upper rod carries the aforementioned hook II and the lower rod which serves as a shank carries the hook means which is engaged with the sheet (not shown) to be handled or carried. I found it expedient and practical to use a double hook arrangement, that is, one which includes a pair of depending fingers 22 braced and connected together as indicated at 23 and having outsanding fiat-type bills 24 to conveniently engage the sheet.

It will be observed that the sections 2| and 2 la are of a companion type and hingedly connected together at their adjacent ends, the hinge joint including suitable clutch means which allows the lower section 2 la to have a pendulous action and to be locked either in an outwardly inclined outof-the-way position or locked in the perpendicular position at which time it is utilized for carrying sheet objects, etc. The jointing or hinge means is shown in the various figures and includes a pair of spaced parallel plates 25 formed integral with the lower end of the upper rod section 2|. This forms a sheath or an adapter means for the adjacent pivoted end of the swingable section 2 la. More specifically the plates are provided with bearing openings to accommodate journals formed on the end portions of the polygonal axle 26 shown in Figure 4. There is an eye 21 on the upper end of the rod Zla which fastens to the axle and the axle extends through and beyond the outer surfaces of the plates where it is equipped with alternately usable ratchet wheels 28 and 28a respectively. There is a pivoted pawl or latch employed in connection with each ratchet so as to provide for the desired results. For example, the pawl on one side as shown in Figure 2 is denoted by the numeral 29 and equipped with a pivoted lever or handle 30 for convenient manipulation. The lever is also provided with a counter-weighted extension 3| that serves to hold the pawl down by gravity in connection with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The particular pawl facing the reader and indicated at 28 is such to allow the arm or rod Zla to swing outwardly to an inclined position and to be held in this outer position until released by disengaging the latch 29. This is utilized to hold the arm out of the way and also to facilitate its engagement with different types and kinds of work and articles. The pawl on the opposite Side which is denoted by the numeral 32 for engagement with the ratchet 28a is shown at the left in Figure 2 and is mounted on a simple pivoted lever 33 and its position in relation to the ratchet is such as to prevent the arm Zla from swinging outwardly beyond the perpendicular position there illustrated. Under the circumstances by releasing both pawls the arm can be swung out to the desired angular position for its initial application and the latches then reengaged at which time the latch 29 functions in conjunction with the ratchet 28 to hold the arm in this position. By releasing the same pawl and allowing the arm 2 la to drop down to its natural perpendicular position the hooks or fingers 24 can be swung beneath the plate to be lifted after which the pawl 32 can be dropped down to its locking position to hold the arm in this set or rigid position. The gist of the invention therefore is in the idea of having a unit 9 which is selectively and adjustably connectible with any one of the rods on the frame 6, the arrangement being such as to virtually lock the unit 9 in its fixed position. In addition the two sections 2| and Zia provide the desired compensating or adjustable idea which allows the section 21a to swing out to any desired angular position or then be swung back to engagement with the sheet or article to be handled. The pawl and ratchet means which cooperate with the hinge joint is of the alternately usuable type so that it is possible to lock or retain the arm in either of these positions or in intermediate angular position. It is evident therefore that providing this open work frame and by providing a plurality of units 9 employed in pairs it is possible to expeditiously engage the hooks 24 with the article to be carried so that the article is virtually locked on the frame after which the frame is transported by the usual crane to carry the sheet or work to its point of destination.

At this point I would like to say that for the purpose of a. better illustration and understanding of the invention I have described it as relating to a structure usable primarily in steel mills and the like. It is quite evident, however, that the structure is such as to lend itself for practical utility and dependable use in various other lines of endeavor, in fact at any place where a carrier frame and retention means is needed.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. As a component part of an assemblage of the class described, a carrier and transporting frame comprising an open work structure including end members and longitudinal spaced parallel bar members, said bar members being provided with a plurality of vertically extending notches constituting keeper seats, and being formed with key hole shaped slots to accommodate removable retention pins.

2. In a carrier of the class described, a transporting and suspending frame, a plurality of pairs of hanger units adjustably and releasably mounted on the frame in opposite relationship, each hanger unit including an upper bar member having a hook adjustably connected with the frame, a pair of oppositely disposed integral plates on the lower end of each upper bar, a lower bar member formed at its lower end with an article engaging hook, an aperture in the upper end thereof in which there is received a pin extending transversely of said plates forming a pivotal connection between the upper and lower bar members, said projecting from each plate, and a ratchet connected to the free projecting ends of said pin, and a cooperating pawl for each ratchet pivotally mounted on said plate.

3. In a device of the class described, a horizontal frame including spaced parallel bars, each having vertically arranged spaced notches in one side edge thereof, hanger members, each having a substantially inverted U-shaped hook portion at its upper end for engaging a notched part of a bar, one limb of the hook-shaped part fitting in the notch to prevent rocking movement of the hanger member.

4. In a device of the class described, a horizontal frame including spaced parallel bars, each having vertically arranged spaced notches in one side edge thereof, hanger members, each having a substantially inverted U-shaped hook portion at its upper end for engaging a notched part of a bar, one limb of the hook-shaped part fitting in the notch to prevent rocking movement of the hanger member, said notched bars being arranged in inner and outer pairs.

5. In a device of the class described, a horizontal frame including spaced parallel bars having spaced vertically arranged notches in their side edges, hanger members, each having a hook at its upper end for engaging a notched part of a bar, one part of the hook passing through a notch for preventing rocking movement of the hanger member, each member including upper and lower bar sections, means for pivotally supporting the lower bar section from the upper bar section, and two sets of ratchet mechanisms for the lower bar section, one set preventing swinging movement of the bar section in one direction, while permitting it to swing in an opposite direction, and the other set preventing movement of the bar section in said opposite direction and permitting it to swing in the first mentioned direction.

WALTER CREIGHTON GALLIHER. 

